Page 89 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“You’re not the only one who cares about her,” the she-wolf sniped and crossed her arms. “We’re in.”
Bo and Kieran nodded their agreement.
“I believe in her,” Kieran said. “I’m in.”
Clearly torn, Lee stared holes into the grassy floor. I couldn’t help but respect the man for being so careful about his daughter.
“She can do this,” I assured him.
He sighed. “Give her a few more days. Then—then, I’ll do it.”
Circe nodded and disappeared in a flash of light.
When his gaze met mine, a silent question passed between us.
What have we done?
???
Elle
Days passed, and I cursed the vow I had made to my reflection.
It cast a shadow on every second in Circe’s realm because every second was another moment wasted. The ancient witch had taken me to landscapes of every kind, offered words of encouragement, criticism that grated my nerves, and literally thrown daggers at me, all to no avail.
I couldn’t control a shift, nor could I summon even a tendril of light.
Though Dad’s, Ryder’s and Mom’s help had improved my combat skills, my chimera continued to loom outside my control. When I needed heightened hearing, I sprouted talons. When I wanted to grow wings, fur lined my shoulders.
Sometimes, I wondered if being at the mercy of my inner beast was any different from being under the sorceress’s thrall.
At least my creature would never hurt Ryder.
No. My beast was so infatuated with him, she now barely tolerated when he left her sight.
In Circe’s library, I sat at one of many broad, oak tables and tried to focus on the pages of the thick book in front of me, but my thoughts drifted like rogue waves.
Control, control, control.
The witch had said the word so many times, I wondered if it looped in her mind like it did in mine.
A clock chimed, and I snapped my attention back to the book. Like my other mornings in this realm, Circe had flashed into our room at dawn and ordered me out of bed to begin my historical studies. I still didn’t quite understand why I was in a library instead of trying to coax my chimera into cooperation.
At least Circe woke you instead of your parents,I thought.
I had been entangled in Ryder’s warm, muscular limbs. Though we had started the night at opposite sides of the huge bed, like magnets, we had found each other in sleep. Thinking about the dreams his nearness had summoned—tangled limbs and hot kisses and exploratory touches—stroked a fire withinme, and I squirmed in my seat.
Across the room, Ryder’s nostrils flared, and his amber eyes glowed.
“You’re not thinking about the book, Ellie,” he chided.
Though rows of oak tables separated us, his gaze was like a gentle caress against my skin. With casual grace, he leaned against the bookshelves lining the walls. Light from the towering windows streaked across the harsh angles of his face.
As he stared at me, my inner beast rose to attention. With each day that passed, she became more impossible to ignore. It was like she had woken from a deep sleep and needed time to regain full awareness.
I often wished she’d slither back into silence.
Judging by her irritation, which bled into mine like a wound, the feeling was mutual.
